Potato slicing machine



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May 5, 1959 Filed July 13, 1956 B. WOODWARD, JR

POTATO SLICING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BERNARD WOODWARD, JR.

AT-ToRNEY May 5, 1959 B. wooDwARD, .JR 2,884,974'y PoTATo SLICINGMACHINE Filed July 15, 195e s sheets-sheet, 2

OOOOO Oo .OOOOO INVNTOR. BERNARD wooDwARD, JR.

ATTORNEYy May 5, 1959 B. WOODWARD, JR

POTATO SLICING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BERNARD WOODWARD,JR.

RVi/TM@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Oi POTAT() SLICING MACHINE BernardWoodward, Jr., Rochester, N.Y., assignor to F. B. Pease Company,Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application July 13, 1956,Serial No. 597,653

8 Claims. (Cl. 146-78) My invention relates to a potato slicing machineand more particularly to the knife mounting of such a machine. Referenceis made to my co-pending application Ser. No. 532,279, filed September2, 1955, now Patent No. 2,832,387.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine of the type shown anddescribed in the above mentioned copending application in which theslicing knives are mounted and arranged for performing the slicingoperatio-n in a more efficient manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a potato slicing machine inwhich the slicing knives thereof are mounted so that they may be placedin tension and positively held in a desired position, preferably radialwith respect to the axis of rotation, whereby more ellicient slicing ofthe potatoes is accomplished.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for cutting wholepeeled potatoes into crinkled slices suitable for French frying, themachine being inexpensive to manufacture, ecient in operation andadapted to produce crinkled sliced potatoes in large quantities, theknives being extremely thin in crosssection and placed in tension toaccomplish more efficient slicing with less damage to the knives duringoperation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means of mounting theslicing knives of a potato slicing machine wherein clamps or knifemounting members are provided for rigidly holding the knives in a radialposition with respect to an axis of rotation, the clamps after receivingthe knives between them being adapted to be spread apart to place theknives in tension.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a means of mountingthe slicing knives of a potato slicing machine whereby the knives may beremoved for sharpenlng or replacement by merely loosening retainingscrews and each individual knife may be removed without disturbing theothers.

My invention further contemplates a novel construction of a potatoslicing machine wherein the parts are arranged for easy partialdismantling to enable examination and repair of the interior of themachine.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be particularly setforth in the claims and will be apparent from the following description,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the machine of my inventionshowing the slicing knives, the mounting therefor, the drive for themachine and showing how the parts are arranged for easy partialdismantling to enable convenient access to the operating parts;

Fig. 2 is ar view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in thedirection indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the mounting for one of the knivesand illustrating the position of the parts when the knife is not intension;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the knife in tension;

Fig. 5 is an edge view of one of the knives;

2,884,974 Patented May 5, 1959 HCC Fig. 6 is a sectional view takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. lin the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a means of mounting andtensioning a straight slicing knife instead of a fluted or corrugatedone; and

Fig. 9 is an edge view of one of the straight slicing knives.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the machine of my invention comprises awhole sliced potato intake chute 11 which herein has been shown indotted lines and is more fully shown in my above mentioned co-pendingapplication; a frame 12 which has been only partly shown which carriesthe mechanism to be described; a driving motor 13 mounted on the frame;and suitable mechanism presently to be described for rst cutting thepotatoes into slabs and then slicing the slabs into frying size pieces.

The frame is generally rectangular in shape and may include legs (notshown) for supporting the frame at the proper height in a potatopeeling, slicing and packing line, The frame may be made of angle orchannel iron or other structural shapes suitably welded or otherwisesecured together to form a strong structural support for the operatingmechanism, one channel carried by the frame being shown at 14.

The projecting end of the motor shaft has a pulley 16 rigidly securedthereto. A belt 17 drives a pulley 18, the hub 19 of which is keyed to atubular drive shaft 21. The tubular drive shaft is carried by bearings22 supported by structural shapes 23 tied to the frame l2.

Extending in concentric relation to and internally of the tubular driveshaft 21 is a stationary shaft 24 having a square end 26. rlhe squaredend of the shaft is adapted to receive a member 27 which is welded tothe channel 14 as indicated at 28. The projecting end of the shaft isthreaded to receive a nut 29 and washers 31 are interposed between themember 27 and the nut 29. The purpose of the arrangement described is toprevent any rotation of the shaft 24.

Keyed to the hollow rotatable shaft 2l, as indicated at 32, and held inposition longitudinally of the shaft by set screws 33 is a rotatable orcarrier plate 34 which has radially extending strengthening ribs 36. Thecarrier plate constitutes the rotating wall of a housing or potatoreceiving casing, the other walls o-f which are stationary as willpresently appear. Integral with the carrier plate 34 or attached theretoin any suitable manner are a plurality of paddles or potato propellingelements 37. These paddles urge the potatoes by centrifugal force intoengagement with a peripheral wall 38 constituting a stationary part ofthe casing. The peripheral wall has an annular flange 40 welded theretowhich substantially closes the space between the stationary peripheralwall 38 and the inner edge o-f the paddles 37.

The peripheral wall 38 is integral with or welded, as shown, to a plateor wall 39, the carrier plate 34, the stationary peripheral wall 38 andthe stationary Wall 39 constituting the housing for the reception of thepotatoes to be spliced. The stationary wall 39 is welded, `as indicatedat 42, to a stationary sleeve 43 for a purpose which will later appear.A shroud 44, annular in shape, is welded to the plate 39 externallythereof, the purpose of which will also later appear.

The stationary sleeve 43 has a pair of slots 46 projecting inwardly fromone end thereof for the reception of the ends of a pin 47 which extendsthrough the fixed shaft 24. The forward or outboard end of the shaft 24is threaded, as indicated at 48, to receive an elongated nut 49 adaptedto be turned by a hand wheel 51.

The shaft 24 is turned down `at 52 and from thence to its rearward orinboard end. The hollow drive shaft 3 21 is thus Ientirely free of thestationary shaft 24 as indicated by the clearance 53. The hollow driveshaft Z1 has a slight bore for the reception of a sleeve bearing 54which rotates with the hollow shaft.

It will now be appreciated that when the nut 49 is drawn up by rotatingthe hand wheel S1, the end of the nut butts against the end of thesleeve and holds the sleeve 43 and the stationary housing 39-38 rigidlyin position longitudinally of the stationary shaft. The pin 47 serves asa stop to limit the inward movement of the sleeve 43. When it is desiredto gain access to the interior of the housing for the purpose ofeffecting repairs or Afree parts which may have become clogged with poetatoes, the nut 49 is withdrawn from the end of the shaft 24. Thestationary housing 39-38 together with the sleeve 43, may then bereadily removed. When desired the shaft 24 may be removed by removingthe nut 29 and pulling the shaft through to the left as viewed in Fig.1.

The rotatable carrier plate 34 has an annular turned part 56 and anannular ange 57. The annular flange has a plurality of bolt openingsarranged in a circle for the reception of `an `annular ring of bolts 55which serve to hold a knife mounting assembly generally indicated by thenumeral 58, in position. The knife mounting assembly 58 comprises a pairof annular knife mounting rings 59 and 61. The knife mounting ring 59 isheld rigid with the rotatable carrier plate 34 by the bolts 55.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 which are enlarged views of the lowerpart of the knife mounting `assembly shown in Fig. l, the knife mountingannular rings 59 and 61 are held in fixed space relation by spacing rods62. For this purpose the annular rings 59 and 61 'are provided withbores 63 adapted to receive the ends of the spacing rods 62. The ends ofthe spacing rods 62 are threaded longitudinally, as indicated at 64, andprovided with bored sockets 66. The threaded bores 64 are adapted toreceive the threaded portions of screws 67. The spacing rods areprovided with shoulders 69 against which the margins of the boreopenings 63 in the 'annular rings 59 and 61 abut when the screws 67 aredrawn up tight. In the particular arrangement shown, eight spacing rodsare provided (Fig. 2). It will now be apparent that the spacing rods 62,when the screws are drawn up tight, hold the annular rings 59 and 61rigidly in spaced relation throughout their annular extent.

The stationary casing dened by the peripheral wall 38 and the stationarywall 39 is surrounded by a multiplicity of slicing blades, as indicatedmore clearly in Fig. 2, held in position by the knife m-ounting assembly58. In the construction about to be described, the means employed holdsthe slicing blades, indicated by the numeral 71, precisely radial withrespect to the axis of the hollow drive shaft 21. An important aspect ofthis invention lies in the construction of the mounting means for theslicing blades by which this precise radial positioning of the slicingknives is accomplished. While a precise radial positioning of theslicing knives is believed to be important, it will 'be appreciated thatshould it be found desirable, under certain conditions, to have theslicing knives tilted slightly with respect to the radial, this would bepossible by slight modification of the mounting means as will beapparent.

The slicing knives, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, are `corrugated orfluted and are extremely, almost wafer thin in cross section. Preferablythe slicing knives are approximately twenty thousandths of an inchthick. The cutting edges, at 72, are sharpened (Figs. 3 and 6) `and byreason of the extreme thinness of the blades, the slabs of potatoes, aswill presently appear, 'are readily forced through the slicing knives71. Because l have found the use of extremely thin slicing knivesdesirable, the precise radial positioning of the slicing knives, in theapplications I have thus far encountered, appears to be of the utmostimportance. The slicing knives being radially mounted 4 between the twoadjacent knives, as will be more clear from an examination of Figs. 2'and 7, there exists a throat 73 which is smaller in cross sectionalarea than the discharge or outlet 74. That is, the space between twoadjacent knives increases from the cutting edges of the knives as theyextend radially from the axis of rotation.

As previously mentioned, the slicing knives are extremely thin. They aremade as thin as practical considering the extremely rigorous servicewhich they must withstand. The almost wafer thin cross sectional area ofthe knives, as distinguished from relatively thick knives, not onlycauses less resistance to the urging of the slabs of potatoes betweenthe knives but also causes less cornpression of the potato during theslicing operation. Compression of the potato slices along the surfacescut appears to make the potatoes tough after frying.

With the considerations in mind that it appears to be important to makethe slicing knives extremely' thin and hold them precisely radial, Ihave further found that the slicing knives bend and break probably dueto uncquai forces being applied en opposite sides of a knife during aslab cutting operation.

I have further discovered that bending and breakage of slicing knivescan be, to a large extent overcome, if the slicing knives are stretchedtaut much as a violin string might be stretched. The knives are ofhardened steel and, in the case of a corrugated or fluted knife,tensioning of the knife results in a lengthening or stretching of theknife so that it is spring-like in character. When thus stretched tautor tensioned, if the forces on opposite sides of a particular knife areunequal so that there is a tendency to bend the knife, due to thespring-like character of the knife, immediately upon removal of theunequal forces, the knife will spring back to its original radialposition with respect to the axis of rotation. One of the importantreasons for tensioning the knives is to secure uniform slice widths.This results from the fact that if the knives are distorted during acutting operation they will spring back t-o a radial equi-spacedposition.

For the purpose of mounting the slicing knives and tensioning them, Iprovide a pair of clamps 76 and 77. The ends of the clamps are slotted,as indicated at 78, for the reception of the knives. The ends of theknives, as indicated at 79, are bent at an angle of approximately to thelengthwise extent of the knives so that the bent portions 79 may bepositioned behind or in locked relation to the clamps 76 and 77.

The lower end of each of the clamps is slotted, as indicated at 81, forthe reception of a dowel pin 82. The dowel pins 82 are press fitted intobores 83 formed in the annular rings 59 and 61. The dowel pin receivingbores 83 are bored accurately equidistant from each other on a circlethe center of which is the axis of rotation of the hollow drive shaft21. Bores 84 are also provided in the annular rings 59 and 61 for thereception of screws 86. These bores 84 are formed equidistant from eachother in an annular ring or circle the center of which is also the axisof the shaft 21. Moreover, each of the bores 84 is on the same radius asone of the bores 83.

The bores 84 are adapted to receive screws 86. The screws 86 have shanks87, machined cylindrically which accurately t the bores 84 and the endsof the screws 86 are threaded, as shown, to receive threaded openings 88provided in the clamps 76 and 77. The annular rings 59 and 61 arestepped, as shown at 89, to provide an annular recess extending entirelyaround the annular rings 59 and 61 to accommodate the bent over parts 79of the slicing knives.

lt will now be apparent that, when the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 3, the slicing knives may be readily inserted in the slots 78provided in the ends of the clamps. Then upon drawing up one or both ofthe screws 86, the clamps 76 and 77 will be drawn up so they lie `iiushwith and flat against the faces of the annular rings 59 and 61,Tightening up on the screws to draw the clamps flush against the annularrings 59 and 61 lengthens the knives 71 by pulling the utes of theknives apart. The knives are thus stretched taut and tensioned. Aspreviously mentioned, the knives are essentially of spring steel andwhen tensioned in the manner described, upon removal of forces tendingto distort or bend the knives, they will spring back into a positionradial with respect to the axis of rotation.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of my invention for the receptionof straight cutting knives 91 having bent ends 92. The construction ofthe annular ring 59 and its associated parts including the clamp 76 isthe same as that previously described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4.However, the annular ring on the other side, indicated by the numeral93, is shaped differently and is provided with an annular abutment part94 and an annular recessed part 96. A screw 97 having an elongatedcylindrical machined shank 98 is threaded at its outer end as shown at99. A spring 101 is interposed between the head of a screw 97 and thewall of the annular ring 93. When the screw 97 is threaded into theclamp 77 until a shoulder 102 of the screw engages the clamp 77, theclamp 77 and the screw 98 are in effect a single unit and thecylindrical shank 98 is free to shift in the bore of the annular ring93. Thus the pressure of the spring 101 holds the slicing knife 91 intension and the spring will yield when the knife is subjected todistorting forces.

The operating parts are enclosed by a sheet metal housing 108 removablefrom the frame, Fig. 1, to enable access to the driving elements. Asecond shield 109 is attached in position to the shield 108 by screws111 only one of which is shown in Fig. 1. The sheet metal shield 109 maybe readily removed to enable access to the rotating parts. The shroud 44substantially closes the space between an inwardly turned lip 112 of theshield 109,

When the casing or housing defined by the stationary wall 39, thestationary peripheral wall 38 and the rotating wall 34 is charged withpotatoes through the chute 11 and the hollow shaft 21 rotated, thepaddles 37 and the slicing knives 71 are rotated. Centrifugal forceexerted on the potatoes by the paddles 37 throws the potatoes toward theinner side of the peripheral wall 38.

As more particularly described in the above mentioned co-pendingapplication, the peripheral wall 38 (Fig. 2) is spiral in shape, thewall increasing in distance from the axis of rotation in a clockwisedirection from the point 113 to the point 114. A preferably fluted knife116 is mounted at 113 and the gap 117 between the edges 113 and 114provides a space between which slabs of potatoes cut by the knife 116are discharged into cutting relation with the radially extending slicingknives. As the slicing knife mounting assembly, generally indicated bythe numeral 58, rotates, the slabs just cut by the knife 116 move closerand closer t-o the exterior of the peripheral wall 38 as will beappreciated from an examination of Fig. 2. The outer surface of theperipheral wall 38 pushes the slabs of potatoes between the knives; theknives slice the slabs into frying size pieces; and, on the nextrotation of the slicing knives, the next slab as it is cut into piecesby the slicing knives, pushes the slices previously cut outwardly frombetween the slicing knives into a discharge chute (not shown) formed aspart of shield 109, all as more particularly described in the abovementioned co-pending application.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be apparent that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for slicing potatoes the combination of a multiplicityof slicing knives and a mounting means therefor, said mounting meanscomprising a pair of elements, means for holding said elements in rigidspaced relation, knife tensioning means for each of said knives, each ofsaid knife tensioning means comprising a pair of members one of which iscarried by each of said elements, and at least one of which is non-rigidtherewith said members having means for receiving the ends of a knifeand means extending between at least one of said elements and itsassociated member for drawing said member toward said element to placethe knife in tension.

2. In a machine in accordance with claim 1 in which said last mentionedmeans includes a spring.

3. In a machine in accordance with claim 1 in which the knives arecorrugated, means are provided for holding said members radial withrespect to an axis of rotation and means comprising a screw extendingbetween at least one of said elements and its associated member areprovided to draw said member against said element to place the knife intension.

4. A machine for slicing potatoes comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a peripheral wall into which whole peeled potatoes aredischarged, said peripheral wall being spirally related to an axis ofrotation and having a gap defined and Iformed by said spiral peripheralwall through which sliced potato slabs may be discharged, a slab cuttingknife carried by said casing adjacent said gap, potato propelling means,means for rotating said potato propelling means and said peripheral wallwith respect to each other whereby slabs are cut from the potatoes anddischarged through said gap, a multiplicity of corrugated knivessubstantially radially mounted externally of said peripheral wall andequally spaced from said axis of rotation, means for rotating saidperipheral wall and said substantially radially extending knives withrespect to each other whereby the peripheral wall by reason of itsspiral shape forces the slabs outward into cutting relation with theradial knives, and means for tensioning the corrugated knives comprisinga pair of knife mounting members, a carrier having a .pair of spacedelements upon which said knife mounting members are nonrigidly supportedand means for pulling up on said knife mounting members to clamp themagainst said spaced elements and place said knives in tension.

5. A machine for slicing potatoes comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a peripheral wall into which whole peeled potatoes aredischarged, said peripheral wall being spirally related to an axis ofrotation and having a gap defined and formed by said spiral throughwhich sliced potato :slabs may be discharged, a slab cutting knifecarried by said casing adjacent said gap, potato propelling means, meansfor rotating said potato propelling means and said .peripheral wall withrespect to each other whereby slabs are cut from the potatoes anddischarged through said gap, a multiplicity of knives substantiallyradially mounted externally of said peripheral wall and equally spacedfrom the axis of rotation, means for rotating said peripheral wall andsaid substantially radially extending knives with respect to each otherwhereby the peripheral wall by reason of its spiral shape forces theslabs outward into cutting relation with the radial knives, and meansfor tensioning said knives for resisting the circumferential forcesimparted to said slabs by said spiral peripheral wall for maintainingsaid knives in radial alignment comprising a pair of ring shaped membersand movable means in which said knives are mounted, said movable meansbeing movable axially and being carried by said ring shaped members.

6. A machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said movable meanscomprises a pair of movable elements for each of said radial knives inwhich the ends of the knives are rigidly secured and means for moving atleast one of said movable elements toward and away vfrom its ring shapedmember to enable the tensioning of each radial knife separately.

7. A machine for slicing potatoes comprising, in cornbination, a casinghaving a peripheral wall into which whole peeled potatoes aredischarged, said peripheral Wall being spirally related to an axis ofrotation and having a gap defined and formed by said spiral throughwhich sliced potato slabs may be discharged, a slab cutting knifecarried by said casing adjacent said gap, potato propelling means, meansfor rotating said Ipotato propelling means and said peripheral Wall withrespect to each other whereby slabs are cut from the potatoes anddischarged through said gap, a multiplicity of knives substantiallyradially mounted externally of said peripheral Wall and equally spacedfrom said axis of rotation, means for rotating said peripheral Wall andsaid substantially radially extending knives with respect to each otherwhereby the peripheral wall by reason of its spiral shape forces theslabs outward into cutting relation with the radial knives, resilientlysupported mounting means and means including said resiliently supportedmounting means for supporting and tensioning said radial knives.

8. A machine for slicing potatoes comprising, in combination, a casinghaving a peripheral wall into which whole peeled potatoes aredischarged, said peripheral wall being spirally related to an axis ofrotation and having a gap deiined and formed by said spiral throughwhich sliced potato slabs may be discharged, a slab cutting knifecarried by said casing adjacent said gap, potato propelling means, meansfor rotating said potato propelling means and said peripheral wall withrespect to each other o whereby slabs are cut from the potatoes anddischarged through said gap, a multiplicity of knives substantiallyradially mounted externally of said peripheral wall and equally spacedfrom the axis of rotation, means for rotating said peripheral wall andsaid substantially radially extending knives with respect to each otherwhereby the peripheral Wall by reason of its spiral shape forces theslabs outward into cutting relation with the radial knives, resilientlysupported mounting means and means including said resiliently supportedmounting means for supporting and tensioning said radial knives toresist the circumferential forces imparted to said slab by said spiralperipheral Wall and for enabling the radial knives to yield when thecircumferential forces are excessive.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,187,957 Urschel Jan. 23, 1940 2,232,311 Bridge Feb. 18, 1941 2,288,986Yuhas July 7, 1942 2,664,130 Kubon Dec. 29, 1953 2,749,955 Buechele June12, 1956 2,832,387 Woodward Apr. 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 777,061 FranceNov. 17, 1934

